Thursday, January 11, 2007

Who are you?

My dear readers,

Come out, come out, wherever you are! I know there are a whole lot of you out there. Between my SiteMeter and Feedburner statistics I am aware (and shocked) that there are hundreds of regular readers of this blog... not to mention all you irregular readers (haha) who happen upon this site from Google or a web link.

I don't blog just to have a record of what I ate for dinner or because I'm in love with the sound of my own typing. I blog because I adore sharing my cooking, and getting feedback and questions and encouragement and critique from all of you fine folks out there in the blogosphere. I like the connection, and the challenge to present you with something new, something pretty, something interesting or inspiring.

I appreciate all of you for making this blog so successful. Without you, I wouldn't be cooking as much, learning how to take better photographs, discovering new ingredients, and feeling motivated to share my recipes with the rest of the world. Every day I am shocked that there are people out there who actually want to read what I have to write and cook the recipes that I shared. So thank you, one and all!

This is National De-Lurking Week. I would just love it if you'd comment and let me know you're out there. Just say a quick hello, and then you can crawl back into your lurker caves. And if you're reading this via e-mail subscription or LiveJournal syndication... How about clicking over to the blog site (click here) to introduce yourself?

If you want to say more than "howdy"... Tell me what kinds of recipes you'd like to see. Is there a food out there that you need help re-creating in a healthier and/or gluten-free fashion? Are there genres of food that you'd like me to tackle in future posts?

I think I may have commented once before. I enjoy your blog and many of your recipes because I'm on the lookout for healthy wheat free, cow-dairy free, and sugar free recipes. I use xylitol and stevia as sugar substitutes, so it would be nice to see some recipes using those. I've baked with spelt, but I think that may not be safe for gluten allergy, which is your focus, I know. Cheers from Vancouver, Canada!

Hi, I'm Karin. I just started reading this through LJ (I'm surelle on there.) I have wanted to do a similar food blog in theory, but in practice I guess I'm too lazy at the moment. So I read yours instead- thanks! :)

My name is Miriam, i'm 23, newly married to a british guy, take care of 4 chinchillas, and miss eating sourdough bread (sniffle!).

I found you through LJ (i'm beachglass83)

I think you have fantastic recipes, I tried the salmon in parchment paper one last saturday night and cooked it for my whole family. My parents even photographed the food since they thought it was so pretty. It was delicious. That sauce is crazy tasty.

I'm struggling with trying to eat gluten free, healthy, but also quickly. I work full time and have occasional classes at night, so its always hard to find time to cook, and espescially tough to find good things to take for lunch since a majority of the ideas and recipes for lunches involve sandwiches and wheat of all kinds. If you have any ideas, please share! Thanks for the great site! -~*~Miriam~*~

darn, you found me out. i'm kelly and read you mainly through the syndication on LJ after a link you posted in the celiac community. i've also just linked to you on my being revamped "public" blog, and write about my test-slights of your recipes on a vox blog devoted to this whole GF thing.

i was only (self-)diagnosed this summer through an elimination diet at the suggestion of a friend who was going lactose/gluten free. after reading more about celiac and gluten-intolerance, and i cold pick my jaw up off the floor, i realized i had been given the key i had wished and prayed for or so many years. since infancy, i've had a wide-range of illnesses or problems, all seemingly unconnected, but i was convinced that they had to be related. it didn't make sense (chronic daily migraine, lactose intolerance, sjogren's, seronegative RA) that they would be. until i read about celiac.

kinda stupid to miss it for so long. i've known people with celiac my whole life. but because i had the more odd-ball stuff (i mean, duh, everyone has stomach issues everyday, right? right?) i never knew.

all i know is that since august, my life has changed. and best of all, it has given me a new passion and joy in cooking. i've always loved to cook, and am the ultimate leftover girl, spending the weekend in the kitchen, and enjoying the rewards during my too-busy weeks. but now, now i have a reason, a mission, a perfect excuse to stay in and play on the weekends.

of all the different recipe sites and GF blogs i surf, yours remains my favorite, and usually the source of at least one meal during the week. awesome recipes, easy and accessible. please, please, ever stop!

Heheh. I've seen you around. I actually added you/read on LJ, but now that I'm here, I realize that I've seen you on Shauna's blog as well. Small, gluten-free world. I just started reading, so I've got a lot of backreading to do.

There was another comment up there, but I'll ask it again: How do you feel about alternative sweetners? I'm trying to cut out sugar this year, and I'm using agave nectar and Z-Sweet (well, I bought a bottle... still hesitant) to do so.

Hi. From livejournal and various other places. I have your feed on lj. I absolutely love your pictures, and I, from afar and not really knowing you, feel like you've made such strides in the last year. I hope it's ok I said that.How did those gf chocolate chip cookies come out?Best,Jay.

Seems there are quite a few "lurkers" out there. I didn't even know about livejournal until reading these entries. Sounds like I am missing a way to reach quite a few gluten-free persons with my own blog. Maybe, when I get time, I'll check that out a bit more (goes on "to do list").

As for your offer to help convert recipes; how about Ginger Cake with Cardamom Cream? I've tried converting it, but it has not worked. It's a very tasty recipe, one I would love to have back in my recipe box.

I recently met and quickly became close friends with someone who is allergic to gluten. However, I had NO CLUE as to what to cook that she could eat during Shabbos meals. Thanks for the recipes and tips they have been quite helpful!

Hi! I'm Amanda from DC (originally Seattle) and I am gluten intolerant. LOVE your website! And your kitched is beautiful in its simplicity. I made your polenta lasagna two nights ago and it was a hit with me and my sometimes picky boyfriend Tony! I substituted chard for kale (kale and I don't get along) and left out the olives (same reason) and it turned out fabulous! It was my first experience with polenta (my mom always tried to get me to eat it growing up, but the bouncy tube of it from the grocery store creeped me out), and now I'm excited to try many more polenta recipes. Thanks!

Hi,I'm Nancy. I learned of your blog when someone on the yahoo "gluten free and vegetarian" group posted a message about your potato knishes. (I later sent you a message about noodle kugels using the potato noodles that only seem to be available around Passover.) I've kept kosher my whole life, been gluten-free for 8 years, and been vegetarian for about 10 months now. I live in New Jersey, and I'm married, with one stepdaughter in college, and one small and very lively stepdog. Here's something my mom used to make, which I am trying to figure out how to recreate. I think she called them kartoffel knaidlach. She made some kind of mashed potato concoction that she rolled into long ropes. Then she cut the ropes into 1-inch pieces, boiled them, and then fried them with onions. I can't find a recipe for this. Thanks!

OK here I am, coming out. I have a 17 year old son who's gluten free, and I'm teaching him to cook. Any help in that direction would be good - he's off to university in September and so money, space and ingredients are all going to be a problem. Meanwhile, I read your blog and dream... Thank you!

I'm a gluten intolerant mother of 3 and English professor living in SF. The polenta lasagna was a huge hit with my book club last night! Thanks for your upbeat blog and delicious recipies. Any chance there could be a place on your site for readers to post tips (gluten-savy restaurants; new products, etc.)?

I'm Kerrick. We had dinner a few nights ago. I am learning to cook by cooking for 40 on a weekly basis. Hurrah! Someone with a wheat allergy just moved in, and I appreciate you sharing your gluten-free cooking adventures so I can work on making our meals edible for her. I also love to cook... so long as I have an audience. And you may have inspired me to create a cooking blog of my own someday.

Hi there! I'm Sra from When My Soup Came Alive! I'm writing in not so much to de-lurk as to tell you what a lovely post this is - the reason you explained why you blog and how you love the communication.

you already know i'm an avid reader. you're so popular!!! i read your site but as you know, i never take it that extra step, so i have not made any food that you've written about. cooking is SO not my thing, but i love that you've found a passion and share it with all of us. yea for all your jewish knowledge and yummy recipes! and the pictures are always fabulous (sorry to hear about your digi-cam).kisses from new york.

I'm a closet lurker from Bellingham. Our entire family of 4 are gluten intolerant.Just love all of your recipes and how careful you are about making them right.Got to ask if you have tried ruglach yet and had any success? If so please share!Gluten-free momma

I'm freshwater_pr0n on LJ, and I found your blog through the food_fiends community.

I'm much more likely to eschew grains altogether rather than look for substitutes that won't make me sick but are clearly not the real thing. I appreciate the way you write about delicious foods that are inherently gluten-free and need no modification.

Your hummus recipes have become new staples in my house, but it's the apricot gelt that really won me over.

Well, you know me. I have been MIA for the last month or so, but I'm back! Thanks for all of your fantastic recipes. I will be checking out more posts to find some GF vegetarian dishes so that I can cook for a friend soon.

Hi-I found you through Kalyn's blog and have been subscribing for almost one month. I love when food bloggers send out emails as I have so many food blogs sites bookmarked but do not get to often enough.

I was especially appreciative of both the photo and the post for the Polenta Lasagne. I have been wanting to try a new way to use polenta and this one sounds amazing.Keep up the great work!Also, I thought the photos you took with your phone quite good, at least you are resourceful. ;~)